The Dahls: Making a Life for Ourselves One Busy Day at a Time

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Here are a few pictures of my new cheerleaders this year. This is who I spend all my time with. They are such a great group of girls and I love them so much! We started in March and are now into football season and it is just wonderful!

So, if you have been to our house lately you know that our weeds have taken over the world! We were, by far, the worst yard on the block! We have just been so busy and the weeds grow so fast. It got to the point where they were taller than me and EVERYWHERE!!! We finally have the money and time to do our fence, sprinklers, sod, gravel, etc. So, yesterday my parents came over and so did Juan (Rick's good friend) with his bobcat. Let me just tell you that it was the hardest day of work that I have done in years. We pulled weeds in 95 degree heat for almost 10 hours!!! That is how long it took to get our weeds out. Finally, it was done. Yay!!!

The most exciting part about our yard is the fact that our dogs will now have somewhere to go. I don't think anyone understands (unless you have 2 dogs and no yard) what it is like to take two dogs on leashes 5 times+ a day to go to the bathroom. Not to mention that Allie is so picky about where she goes and circles in place for about 20 minutes, no joke! It gets SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO old! What I wouldn't give to just open a door and let them have their "time" to go. Well, that will be happening soon!!! Yayayayaayyaay!

Here are some pictures of the last batch of weeds to take to the dump. With three trucks/trailers and about 10 trips to the dump, it was finally done. Here is half of a load/trip's pictures:

Here she is! Our little new family member. Gracie is the sweetest little girl in the world! Her and Allie are inseperable! They sleep on each other 24/7. We are glad that Allie has someone to spend the days with while we are at work. Here are some pictures!

-"What did they ask for, whatever it is they can have it!" "They want your case of wonka bars. Ms Curtis, did you hear me it's your husband's life or your case of wonka bars!" "How long will they give me to think it over?"

-"The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last."

-"If the good Lord had intended on us walking he wouldnt have invented roller skates."-"He can't swim! There's no better time to learn."-Don't just stand there, do something!" "Help. Police. Murder."

The list goes on...

As I sat there busting a gut, I realized something: I have seen this movie so many, many times and these jokes were never funny to me. Had I been not really watching this movie? Have the jokes changed? It then hit me...I am getting old and jokes that weren't funny to me are now hilarious! This opened up a realm of "realizations" that have made me realize that "I am getting old."

The following are things that make me know I am getting older:

1. Roller coasters now make me a little sick. I used to be OBSESSED with roller coasters! I would sit for hours in a line for a good "coast." Now, I will finish one and think "was that worth 45 minutes of sitting in line for a headache, stomach ache, back ache, and loss of an hour? Don't get me wrong, I still like them, but I am starting to see why older people don't like them. It is illogical to wait for so long to get tossed around in a metal cart.

1a. From the age of 11-15, I went to Seven Peaks almost every day in the summer. Going that many times still never got old. I adored it. Even in college, it was a good day when my friends and I would go to Seven Peaks. The boomerang, Free Fall, rope swing, lily pads, etc. never failed for me. Well, Layni and I went to the Peaks this summer and it was a very different experience. I chickened out on the boomerang, went down freefall and couldn't believe I did that to myself (those who have been on it know that it really hurts your back and hips and it just isn't worth it to me anymore), I wish I had brought a book to read (Are you kidding me? I used to make fun of my mom so much for wanting to "sit in the shade and read at Seven Peaks"), sat in the the shallow end of the wave pool for about two hours, went on the rope swing and it didn't entertain me at all, went in the adult pool place by the hot tubs and thought "What are all these annoying little kids doing in this spot? Stop splashing me! Get out of here!" -okay grandma! Etc. Etc. Etc. Long story short, Seven Peaks isn't the same anymore...

2. I am speaking like an elderly. I now say things like "Wild, Wonderful, Silly, Great, Fantastic, Cooky, etc. Those that are reading and are on the older side know you say these things and know that I have now joined you.

3. I went to bed at 9:15 last night. 9:15!!! I was so excited too! I was wearing my nightie (long t-shirt-like dress thing, so grandma), and was thrilled to be in bed early. Joke, Joke, Joke!!!!!

All-in-all, I am turning into an old prune. An old prune that loves her life! I am pefectly happy with all these changes and can't wait for the changes up ahead!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Wow, it sure has been a long time since we have blogged. I feel like life gets busier and busier by the day, and I don't even have kids yet!

Well, the reason I have decided to begin blogging again (yes, there was a moment when I thought "I am done with blogging") is because I feel like so many funny things happen to me on a daily basis; whether it is from my English students, my cheerleaders, my dogs, or my husband. I feel the need to share them all. Another thing that I have wanted to start blogging about is my obsession with home improvements "aka" things I do to my house and yard. I have been told that I am very unique and thoughtful about how I decorate my house with what things I do to it, and just my ideas. I got that from my mom, who, if you know her AT ALL, know that she is beyond obsessed with her house, her yard, her cooking, and her antiques. Growing up, I always hated how we would eat such gourmet food. I would always beg her saying "Please let us eat hot dogs or sloppy joes like every other family." I was clearly in the faze of fitting in and it didn't help when my friends would come over for dinner and be eating "every-bean-known-to-man casserole on top of a prune and squash risotto (totally made up, but funny ha). Now I have learned to adore her cooking, excluding the occasional "blue cheese-stuffed bell pepper" or "cranberry hamburgers." The same goes for her decor. I have learned that I like to decorate just like she does! I find myself, every time I go over there, trying to steal something from her house without her noticing lol.

Long story short, I have learned that I am becoming my mom in every way and I am perfectly happy with it. In fact, I love it! So, I will be blogging about my home "stuff" that I do, as well as funny things that happen to me daily.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

So, for our Christmas present, Bryce and I went to Disneyland over New Year's. It was so much fun, but so crazy!! I have never been so close to so many people at one time. It was shoulder-to-shoulder the entire time. It was so much fun though! I adore Disneyland, and was so happy to finally go there with the love of my life.

On our daily shuttle ride

I couldn't get the sword out....:(

I found this little guy while waiting in line for Mr. Toad's, and wanted to keep him, but everyone around me kept saying "what would you do with him?" so I felt bad and left him alone.

Friday, December 18, 2009

So, I truly love my profession. I think this new way of thinking has come about from some pretty negative things that have been happening in my life right now.

I have been having some severe struggles with cheerleading parents (one couple in particular). I will not bore you with all the details, but it has caused me much trouble, pain, and sleepless nights. The COOL thing is that the Lord works in mysterious and sometimes weird ways. Ever since I have been dealing with these problems, I have, for some odd reason, been way more into teaching. I think it is because I am getting ridiculed so much for being such a "mean and bad coach" that I have seen how much I am NOT like that and how much I truly love my kids. I don't know if I can put all these feelings into words, but the light at the end of the dark tunnel is here and I am loving teaching.

For example, today I had to run down to the office and figure a few things out while my 3rd period students were silently reading. I come back to class to find my podium up against the door, both garbage cans, and a student, one of my favorites, recording me as I walk in. Most teachers, including myself on most days, would have freaked out and given them a huge assignment to do or something. I just laughed and made them write triple the amount of work lol. BUT I was smiling the whole time. It turns out that they are making a teacher documentary. I now think they are funny, but I won't tell them that. High school kids are just fun, once you have their respect, and the relationship between you and them starts to build. I am just loving it!